EXPORT(P) POSIX Programmer's Manual EXPORT(P)
NAME
export - set the export attribute for variables
SYNOPSIS
export name[=word]...
export -p
DESCRIPTION
The shell shall give the export attribute to the variables corresponding to the specified
names, which shall cause them to be in the environment of subsequently executed commands.
If the name of a variable is followed by = word, then the value of that variable shall be
set to word.
The export special built-in shall support the Base Definitions volume of
IEEE Std 1003.1-2001, Section 12.2, Utility Syntax Guidelines.
When -p is specified, export shall write to the standard output the names and values of
all exported variables, in the following format:
"export %s=%s\n", <name>, <value>
if name is set, and:
"export %s\n", <name>
if name is unset.
The shell shall format the output, including the proper use of quoting, so that it is
suitable for reinput to the shell as commands that achieve the same exporting results,
except:
1. Read-only variables with values cannot be reset.
2. Variables that were unset at the time they were output need not be reset to the unset
state if a value is assigned to the variable between the time the state was saved and
the time at which the saved output is reinput to the shell.
When no arguments are given, the results are unspecified.
OPTIONS
See the DESCRIPTION.
OPERANDS
See the DESCRIPTION.
STDIN
Not used.
INPUT FILES
None.
ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES
None.
ASYNCHRONOUS EVENTS
Default.
STDOUT
See the DESCRIPTION.
STDERR
The standard error shall be used only for diagnostic messages.
OUTPUT FILES
None.
EXTENDED DESCRIPTION
None.
EXIT STATUS
Zero.
CONSEQUENCES OF ERRORS
Default.
The following sections are informative.
APPLICATION USAGE
None.
EXAMPLES
Export PWD and HOME variables:
export PWD HOME
Set and export the PATH variable:
export PATH=/local/bin:$PATH
Save and restore all exported variables:
export -p > temp-fileunset a lot of variables... processing. temp-file
RATIONALE
Some historical shells use the no-argument case as the functional equivalent of what is
required here with -p. This feature was left unspecified because it is not historical
practice in all shells, and some scripts may rely on the now-unspecified results on their
implementations. Attempts to specify the -p output as the default case were unsuccessful
in achieving consensus. The -p option was added to allow portable access to the values
that can be saved and then later restored using; for example, a dot script.
FUTURE DIRECTIONS
None.
SEE ALSO
Special Built-In Utilities
COPYRIGHT
Portions of this text are reprinted and reproduced in electronic form from IEEE Std
1003.1, 2003 Edition, Standard for Information Technology -- Portable Operating System
Interface (POSIX), The Open Group Base Specifications Issue 6, Copyright (C) 2001-2003 by
the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc and The Open Group. In the
event of any discrepancy between this version and the original IEEE and The Open Group
Standard, the original IEEE and The Open Group Standard is the referee document. The orig-
inal Standard can be obtained online at http://www.opengroup.org/unix/online.html .
IEEE/The Open Group 2003 EXPORT(P)